Pickpockets in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, a few weeks later—We loaded ourselves with video equipment this time, and headed straight for the Metro corner. Having spoken with the gang three weeks earlier, we were afraid to get too close. We wanted to observe them in action without being noticed. I found an excellent location just across the canal from the Metro entrance, a perfect stake-out spot with a convenient cement chunk I could hide behind when necessary. Bob wandered, undisguisable, wishing for a height reduction.
Instant gratification! (No, not Bob getting shorter.) First I noticed two of the gang leaning on the canal wall, watching the heavy flow of people going into and out of the Metro.
I recognized others loitering in the doorway and on the street corner. Most of them seemed to get or make frequent phone calls. They often disappeared from view, melting into the crowd, ducking into the station, or being obscured by traffic.
Suddenly, they’re off and running. I follow with my video camera. The victim doesn’t have a chance. Six gang members surround him. It’s impossible to see them all at any one moment, but on the video (see Part 2), you can see them dance around the mark like a Russian ballet. Two men maneuver themselves in front of him, impeding his progress. Four others are behind and beside him. Then, to buy more time, the largest of the team, in the gray t-shirt, spins around and shoves his weight against the victim’s chest and stomach, nearly doubling him over.
It was impossible to determine if anything had been taken. I had to choose who to follow with the camera and I chose to follow the thieves, who quickly dispersed, then regrouped. I don’t know how the victim reacted seconds later. He immediately left my field of vision.
I got another pursuit on film, but it ended behind an ice cream kiosk that blocked my view. I wasn’t far away, but I was stationary, with a canal in front of me. I got lots of shots of the thieves positioning themselves among the crowds crossing the street.
Meanwhile, Bob wandered through the danger zone. He watched other thieves display their well-practiced choreography. They also employed the Russian sandwich, with a dropped piece of paper, a bend, a block, and a partner’s pluck from behind.
Mohammed is fine. He’s recovered from his near-arrest and is friendly with us again. We didn’t dare ask him to interpret for us again. But we met a nice Russian woman at the black market who teaches English…
This is Part 5 of 5. Part 1 — Video in Part 2
7 Comments
Thanks for reporting, Pam! Wow, it’s interesting to hear that the same gang is still working the streets of St. Petersburg. On the other hand, we see many of the same faces year after year in cities around the world. To me, that sort of confirms that the police are on the take, as you suspect.
After this experience, I bet it will never happen to you again. Your antennas are up and you’re a believer. You’ll stow your stuff carefully, too. Why not check out some of the pickpocket proof underwear I’ve road-tested? (I have no ties to the companies—just like the products.)
We were just pick pocketed earlier this evening at the “Gastroprom” 24 hour supermarket at 74 Nevsky. A group of men who looked actually identical with your photgtaphs jostled my brother-in-law and picked his pocket, getting a wallet with two credit cards and about $300. He had been approached earlier by a man who was the spitting image of the guy in your first photograph. Clearly he was the “mark spotter”. After my brother-in-law was robbed this man mysteriously turned up from nowhere to “help”. Presumably checking to see if we had further things to steal at another time. Our agent said it was pointless reporting it as the police were generally thought to be on the take.
[…] The problem was, they were a team of only two. They lacked the vital third member, the blocker. A blocker would have stopped short in front of the mark, forcing him to stand still for a moment—just long enough for the pickpocket to do his thing. A proper pickpocket crew of at least three individuals choreographs its moves like a Russian ballet. […]
We had heard from guidebooks (lonely planet) and free St. P guides (St. P in your pocket) that this was common, but the emphasis was always on the entrances to metro stations, especially the Nevsky Prospekt entrance. Because we were just passing a bus booth on the street, we weren’t on alert. My wife was told also by her language school to be careful for pickpockets (beforehand). They mentioned also (after the fact) that their students are frequent victims of the gangs, often when simply buying an icecream. They’ll be surrounded, get their passport and valuables taken and there’s nothing they can do.
People should know that any crowded place where your movement is restricted is a risk, but especially Nevsky when there are large crowds, and lots of public transport for thieves to disappear onto. And to keep valuables out of others’ view or to hold onto them tightly when in doubt.
Sorry about your loss, Pierre, and thanks for telling us about it. You’re right, it’s typical, common, and very sad. While I understand why the authorities can’t/won’t do anything about the rampant pickpocketing,I do not understand why the tourist bureaus, group leaders, and especially cruise ships do not give out serious warnings about the dangers. Visitors could sharply cut their losses if they were advised and then took seriously the advice to carry their stuff with extreme care. I’d love to hear what, in particular, were you told about street crime before your visit, and by whom?
I hope that your efforts eventually pay off! I got my rather expensive camera stolen in front of Kazan cathedral on the 26th of Sept. at 5:00PM right in front of the bus stop. 3 guys in black jackets (at least 2 in front, 1 to my left) blocked me (my right was blocked by the bus stop booth, I think), I felt my camera bag jostle, reached back and looked behind, but it was already gone (time lapse, literally, about 3 seconds). All my senses were snapped to high alert, but I had nowhere to direct my rage…
Then an “innocent bystander” tells me in english that the thief ran the other way down the street. The man to my left feigned ignorance and I couldn’t see the camera anywhere, so not having anyone to confront and not wanting to put myself in a more dangerous situation (already surrounded by thugs, and no room to move), I walked away in the direction indicated, instinctively knowing that it was a likely misdirection. I confronted the “innocent bystander” twice as he walked calmly away, the others having already dispersed, but he stuck to his story.
I can think of 2 scenarios: 1- The thief to my left still had the camera on him, and thus the requirement for leading me on a wild goose chase; or 2- There was a 5th man to whom the camera was passed and he either walked off into the crowd or got on one of the waiting buses, the diversion then let the others fade away easily.
It’s sad that this is such a common occurence and that the authorities don’t put effort into ending it (or worse, actively aid the criminals). I just want my photos back at this point…
Good to know you’re safe and sound *outside* Russia!